A Federal High Court in Lokoja has overturned its previous judgment that had directed the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC) to register the Nigeria Democratic Congress (NDC) as a political party. The decision, delivered by Justice Isah Dashen on Friday, means the earlier registration of the NDC has been provisionally invalidated, pending a fresh hearing of the substantive suit.
Justice Dashen ruled that the initial judgment significantly impacted the rights of the Peace Movement Party (PMP), which was not a party to the original proceedings. The PMP had come forward claiming ownership of the distinctive logo that the NDC was registered with, a logo the PMP had reportedly submitted to INEC prior to the commencement of the initial legal battle.
C.S. Ekeocha, legal counsel for the Peace Movement Party, explained that his client approached the court upon discovering that the NDC’s registration leveraged a logo that the PMP had already filed with INEC. This oversight, he argued, prejudiced the PMP’s legitimate claim.
According to Ekeocha, the court has now mandated that all parties revert to their positions as they stood before the December 10, 2025 judgment. Furthermore, it has instructed the claimants presumably the NDC to include all essential parties, particularly the PMP, to ensure a complete and effective resolution of the contentious issues.
The implications of this new ruling are far-reaching, effectively reversing all actions taken by INEC based on the now-set-aside judgment. Ekeocha clarified: "The recognition of the Nigeria Democratic Congress, the issuance of its certificate of registration, its inclusion in INEC’s records, and any appearance on ballot papers arising from that judgment must be withdrawn pending the final determination of the substantive suit."
He stressed that this development does not signal the conclusion of the dispute but rather a procedural reset. "The matter has not been concluded. The court merely set aside its previous judgment and directed that the party whose interests were affected be joined so that all sides can be heard before a fresh decision is reached," Ekeocha elaborated.
Consequently, the contentious registration of the Nigeria Democratic Congress will now return to the Federal High Court for a comprehensive fresh hearing, ensuring that all relevant parties are present and their perspectives considered before a definitive judgment is rendered.